Open Air Weekends to run from June until Labour Day weekend

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O’Brien said she supports Open Air, but not the frequency. She suggested numerous measures including reduced hours such as closing streets Saturdays at 3 p.m. and all-day Sunday. She also suggested opening it Canada Day and wrapping up Labour Day. (The motion passed will see Open Air start the first weekend in June and close Labour Day.)

Kim Cote from Lavender Hair Lounge said they opened in 2020 and were immediately hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. She believed Open Air benefits bars, restaurants and retail but not a business like the one she owns.

Cote also said visitors from outof-town aren’t familiar with parking restrictions and have to deal with bylaw officials as a result, adding many won’t want to return to Amherstburg because of that. She didn’t believe Open Air was gaining momentum, citing periods of little activity, and questioned the recent Top 100 Award from Festivals and Events Ontario.

Three businesses have closed during Open Air, Cote added, and also questioned the length of time streets are closed.

Jen DeLuca from the Waterfront Ice Cream Parlour said while conditions for her have improved due to alterations to the Open Air footprint, others are still hurting. She questioned the numbers of attendees, stating “you don’t even know where they are going” and called for more compromise on Open Air.

Mary Beth Gibb from Country Bliss added she doesn’t like the footprint, as vehicles turn around or park in potentially hazardous areas because there is no other place for them.

“Before COVID, our downtown was thriving,” she said. “That’s why (new businesses) came. That’s why they opened their businesses here.” Stating Open Air has a negative impact on their businesses, Gibb questioned the frequency of Open Air as well.

“Amherstburg has great festivals but not every weekend,” she said.

Vivienne Wood stated her family lives in the area and parking is often an issue for them. She added she is also a small business owner and sympathizes with them, stating if customers can’t access where they want to go, they’ll go elsewhere.

Frank DiPasquale described himself as “a staunch supporter of Open Air” but added he used to be a small business owner. He suggested keeping Dalhousie St. open as a potential compromise and setting up Open Air on other area streets.

Billy Deslippe, who recently closed the Perch Pit food truck at the Waterfront, said his family dates back to the 1800s in Amherstburg and he wanted to continue to build community here. He said he wasn’t against Open Air Weekends, but “I am against the frequency.”

Deslippe pointed out he went to “Stroll the Streets” in Belle River last year and the one week event saw people “shoulder to shoulder,” adding “everyone was having a blast.” He suggested doing Open Air once a month, adding use of the King’s Navy Yard Park should be explored.

“How many businesses do you have to lose before you listen?” he asked.

Councillor Peter Courtney wanted to know from administration what pros and cons were, with manager of tourism and culture Anne Rota stating that her department was willing to do what council wanted. She recommended not changing the “tried and true” footprint but was willing to make alterations, stating the tourism department was not interested in negatively impacting businesses.

Rota added the FEO Awards came after hard work and refuted criticism about the town winning them. She did note that going to an every other weekend schedule would be “a nightmare” from a marketing standpoint as people would lose track of when it was on and when it wasn’t.

Councillor Molly Allaire wanted to see Open Air reduced by at least a day, and also preferred it happening between July and Labour Day. She said she regularly attends Open Air Weekends with her children, but couldn’t support a three day per week format.

With most of the crowd in attendance wanting changes and reductions to Open Air, Councillor Don McArthur told the gallery he listened to their concerns but also heard “hundreds of others” during election season and at other times who wanted Open Air to continue.

“Two things can be true at the same time,” said McArthur, adding he believes in the future of Open Air.

“They were telling me they love it,” he said of his interactions at doorsteps.

Open Air Weekends help Amherstburg keep its “small town charm,” he added, and is a safe place for youth to hang out. Awards don’t happen in a vacuum, McArthur continued, and occur “because we do cool things like Open Air.” He believed supporting the threeday weekly events for 14 weeks was in the best interests for the town, adding a group of downtown businesses known as “The Core” have offered $20,000 for programming.

“It’s like a town square,” he added, of the event.

Councillor Linden Crain also said he heard little opposition to Open Air while campaigning, estimating 50 out of 4,000 doors he knocked on were opposed.

Stating “I completely support it,” Crain added if the event were reduced, it could become watered down too much.

“There’s only so much before it’s no longer worth doing,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said he too is a small business owner and sympathized with the owners in attendance, adding half of businesses and residents like Open Air while the other half don’t. He said 400,000 residents in municipalities that surround Amherstburg are looking for something to do and Open Air is an

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event that draws them here.

“We have to do what’s best for all of Amherstburg,” the deputy mayor said. He added people who work downtown also spend money in town.

Gibb added he was “passionate about the community building aspect,” saying people attend and often reconnect with others they haven’t seen for a while.

A motion to reduce the event to 16 weeks was amended to 14 weeks at the suggestion of Mayor Michael Prue. He said he knocked on about 9,500 doors during the campaign and “people want Open Air.” He said changes have been made annually to try and improve Open Air and believed his suggestion was a compromise.

“We do try to make it bigger and better and get rid of nagging problems,” he said.

Prue believed May was too soon to start Open Air Weekends and that is why he suggested the delay, with the mayor adding he would also like to see night markets established. His amendment also called for parking lots for downtown employees to be further investigated.

Courtney added he wants to see a “diverse downtown” and joined Pouget in being “strongly opposed” to the motion. He suggested reducing the number of days Open Air operates per weekend.

“What you are suggesting is not a compromise,” Councillor Diane Pouget told Prue.

Pouget had earlier called for a compromise, but also suggested starting in July and closing streets at 5 p.m. Friday and on Saturday only, with streets re-open Sunday. She said she hopes by passing the motion as a 14-week, three day per week event won’t lead to human rights complaints or litigation.

“I can’t believe we’re going to go this route,” said Pouget. “Did we not listen to everyone?”

Prue added he received more e-mails in support of Open Air than opposed.